Breeze grab



3, 1965 s. JONGEJAN ETAL 3,198,567

BREEZE GRAB Filed May 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GERQIT JEIYEEJ'A/Y, N/ca Fuzz/5R, BER/YARDUJ h/JfoxHA/y BY Mr ATTORNEY g- 3, 1965 G. JONGEJAN ETAL 3,198,567

I BREEZE GRAB Filed May 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ GERR 1T c/O YGEJA Y hlaa PL/lZ/El? BER/VAR Du: Lira/07 ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1965 e. JONGEJAN ETAL BREEZE GRAB 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed y 1965 ATTORNEY 1965 G. JONGEJAN ETAL 3,198,567

BREEZE GRAB Filed May 3, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.5

INVEN 1 CR5. GE/fR/T' Jamagwm',

BY W i v w ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,i8,56'7 BREEZE GRAB Gerrit .Iongeiau, Ijmuiden, Nico Flazier, Castrieum, and

Bernardus Wiihcirnus Stolrman, Heernsizerk, Netherlands, assignors to Kouinlrlijire Nederlaudsehe Hangorens en Staaiiahrieken N.V., Ijrnuiden, Netherlands, a corporation of Dutch law Filed May 3, 1963, Ser. No. 277,920

Claims priority, application Netherlands, May 3, 1962,

7 Claims. (Cl. 294-'7tl) The invention concerns a grab for breeze (spent coke), hit at least two shells to be opened and closed, for use as an auxiliary tool for a pair of soaking pit charger crane tongs, comprising a column and a pair of tongs movable relative to said column. An auxiliary tool of this kind is generally known and in use. During soaking pit operation, coke breeze, dolomite, or chrome magnesite has to be removed periodi ally. This removal should be effected as quickly as possible in order to prevent production and heat losses between two charges. For the removal of this material it is not possible to use a grab operating with cables, since the cables do not withstand the elevated temperatures in the soaking pit.

A known method consists in removing the above-mentioned material, along with the oxide layer that has dropped off the ingots and the slag formed, with the aid of a scraper hung in the soaking pit charger crane, by means of which scraper this material is scraped towards an opening in the centre or to the side of the bottom of the pit hearth. It is a drawback of this method that this opening often tends to be clogged, and also that the scraper may impinge upon unevennesses in the bottom of the pit, in consequence of which very great forces may be exerted on the crane. Further it is known to remove this material, along with the slag formed, with an auxiliary grab, which has been formed from a pair of tongs for ingots that have fallen over, which tongs are auxiliary to the crane tongs. Detachably fitted to the points of these auxiliary tongs ars shells which perform the function of a grab. This known grab, however, has the drawback that it can only be opened by placing the grab upon a saddle mounted above a car for the removal of this material, so that whenever the grab has grabbed a very small quantity (which frequently occurs), it is still neces sary to go up to the car in order to re-open the grab. The removal of coke breeze with the raid of this device takes a good deal of time. It is the object of the invention to furnish a breeze grab, auxiliary to a soaking pit charger crane, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are not present.

According to the invention this is achieved by the feature that each of the shells is pivotally attached at one end directly to a first cross-beam, or traverse, and at another point via at least one pivoting connecting rod each to a second cross-beam, or traverse, vertically movable relative to the first cross-beam, and that the grab has a head which can be engaged by the arms of the crane tongs, said head being connected or connectable with one of the cross-beams, while means have been provided for ensuring that by a movement of the tongs in relation to the grab shells resting on the ground the other crossbeam is hung on the column or the tongs respectively. In this way, making use of the familiar properties of a soaking pit charger crane, it is possible to perform with the aid of this auxiliary tool any operation required for the removal of breeze at the moment when the grab rests on the ground.

According to another feature of the invention the head may be fixedly connected with a grab column, which near its lower end has a transverse element adapted to engage and thus lift one cross-beam in one angular positionand the other cross-beam in another angular position. By this means it is possible for the grab to be closed or opened by turning the column of the charger crane and a subsequent lifting of this column relative to'the grab resting on the ground.

According to still another feature of the invention the construction may be such that the upper cross-beam has a guiding portion extending centrally downwards through the lower cross-beam, about which the lower cross-beam is permitted to move up and down, and within which the grab column can be moved up and down in a given angular position in relation to the upper cross-beam, the transverse element extending radially beyond the guiding portion so as to engage the lower cross-beam, while the grab.

column, in the position in which the transverse element extends beneath the guiding portion, can be turned in relation to the guiding portion by the tongs, whilst engaging.

the head, so that the transverse element can engage against the underside of the guiding portion.

According to the invention the construction may also be such that the head is connected with one cross-beam, while the other cross-beam has connecting means for lifting and connecting it with the column of the charger crane. In this variant during the operation with this breeze grab one cross-beam is permanently connected with the column of the charger crane, while at will the tongs can engage the head, in which case, when the tongs are lifted, the grab is closed, or the tongs can release the head, in which case, when the tongs are lifted, the grab is opened.

In order to increase the closing force of the grab shells, according to the invention the upper cross-beam may be weighted. As the breeze grab must be designated to operated at elevated temperatures, preferably without the soaking pit hearth being cooled, the breeze grab must naturally be of heavy construction, so as to prevent its being heated through, since otherwise the deformations of the grab prevent its proper operation. When the grabs are large, in general owing to their great Weight the closing force will be sufficient, but when the grabs are smaller, it may be of importance to weight the upper cross-beam.

By reference to the annexed drawing the invention will now be more fully explained.

FIGURE 1 shows a front elevation, partly in section, of a breeze grab and a pair of soaking pit charger crane tongs cooperating therewith, showing the grab in open position.

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to that of FIGURE 1, the breeze grab being shown in the closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the breeze grab shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 shows a longitudinal section through the mechanism for operating the breeze grab, the breeze grab being closed.

FIGURE 5 shows a cross-section similar to that of FIGURE 4, but with the breeze grab being opened.

FIGURE 6 shows a top view of the structure shown in FIGURE 4. V

FIGURE 7 shows an elevation and partial section similar to those of the breeze grab according to FIGURE 1, but refers to a second embodiment.

FIGURE 8 is a similar View of the embodiment of FIGURE 7, with the grab shown in closed position.

FIGURE 9 shows the embodiment according to FIG- URE 7 in a position turned through the breeze grab being shown in the open position.

The soaking pit charger crane tongs to which the breeze grab is auxiliary comprises a column 1, in relation to ca arms 2 are relatively movable while pivoting about a pin 4 and are guided at one end by means of a roller 5 in a slot 6 in the lower end of column 1. A relative vertical movement of the tongs in relation to the column causes the tongs to be opened or closed. The column 1 is further rotatable about its vertical axis.

The grab operated with the aid of the above-mentioned tongs consists essentially of two shells '7, each of which is pivotally attached with one point to a traverse, or cross-beam 8 and with another point to a connecting means 19 so as to pivot about a pin 9, said connecting means connecting the shell 7 with a traverse, or crossbeam 11, with which the connecting means It) is connected so as to pivot about a pin 12. As the distance between the cross-beams 8 and 11 is varied a closing or opening movement is imparted to the shells.

To obtain the relative movement between the crossbeams 8 and 11, a grab column 13 with a head 14 has been provided, which head is engaged by the crane tongs. By turning about the longitudinal axis of the tongs the head 14, and along with it the grab column 13, can be turned, in consequence of which a transverse element 15 attached to the lower end of the column 13 can be made to engage at will either against the underside of the crossbeam 8 or against the underside of the cross-beam 11.-

The operating mechanism preferably consists of a guiding portion 16 consisting of two strips, which are welded to the upper cross-beam, between which strips the column 13 is longitudinally movable and rotatable. The distance between the strips 16 is such that the transverse element 15 is vertically movable between the strips only in a given angular position. In this latter angular position the transverse element 15 engages against the underside of the lower cross-beam 8 as the tongs are lifted The strips 16 are provided on their underside with recesses 17, into which fits the transverse element 15. When the tongs are moved downwards with the grab column 13 until the element 15 is beneath the guiding portion 16, with the aid of the tongs the grab column 13 can be turned through 90, in consequence of which the transverse element 15 comes to rest exactly underneath the recesses 17 and engages the recesses 17 when the tongs are lifted. When the tongs are lifted further, the upward force is therefore transferred via the guiding portion 16 to the upper cross-beam 11, which results in the opening of the grab.

With a view to the reinforcement of the guiding portion and the better guidance of the column 13, the upper part of the guiding portion may be furnished with reinforcing plates 18, which are welded to the strips 16ers well as to the upper cross-beam H.

The embodiment according to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 is essentially the same grab, but in this case the grab column 13 is fixedly connected with the lower cross-beam' 8. The grab column 13 further passes with some clearance through an opening in the upper cross-beam 11. The upper cross-beam is connected with the column of the charger crane by means or" chains 19, for instance.

The closing'and opening movements of the grab are effected by lifting the lower cross-beam 8 via the grab column 13 and the head 14 with the aid of the tongs 2, or lifting the upper cross-beam with the aid of the chains 19 respectively, while the tongs 2 naturally have to be clear of the head 14.

We claim:

1. A breeze grab, auxiliary tool to be operated by a pair of soaking pit charger crane tongs, the crane tongs via a crane column being adapted to open and .close by a relative movement between the crane tongs and the crane column; the breeze grab having shells, each directly connected to a first cross-beam at one end and connected to a second cross-beam by means of at least one pivotally connected connecting rod at the other end, the crossbeams being relatively movable to and away from each other, the breeze grab having a head adapted to be en gaged by crane tongs and said head being connected to a grab column having a transverse element secured thereto near its lower end, said grab column passing through at least said second cross-beam and extending toward said first cross-beam, means connected to the first cross-beam for engaging the transverse element when the latter is in a first angular position, and means associated with the second cross-beam for engaging the transverse element when the latter is in an angular position different from the first angular position, so that either one of the crossbeains may be lifted by the head.

2. A breeze grab, auxiliary tool to be ope-rated by a pair of soaking pit charger crane tongs, the crane tongs via a crane column being adapted to open and close by a relative movement between the crane tongs and the crane column; the breeze grab having shells, each directly connected to a first cross-beam at one end and connected to a second cross-beam by means of at least one pivotally connected connecting rod at the other end, the cross-beams being relatively movable to and away from each other, the breeze grab having a head adapted to be engaged by crane tongs and said head being connected to a grab column having a transverse element secured thereto near its lower end to liftingly engage said first cross-beam in one relative angular position and to liftingly engage said second cross-beam in another relative angular position, one cross-beam having a vertically extending guide member centrally fixed thereto and passing through a central aperture in the other cross-beam, the grab column being vertically movable within said guide element in one angular position and being rotatable about itsvertical axis in its lowermost position, so as to liftingly engage one cross-beam in said one angular position and the other cross-beam in an angular position different from said one angular position.

3. A breeze grab, auxiliary too to be operated by a pair of soaking pit charger crane tongs, the crane tongs via a crane column being adapted to open and close by a relative movement between the crane tongs and the crane column; the breeze grab having shells, each directly connected to a first cross-beam at one end and connected to a second cross-beam by means of at least one pivotally connected connecting rod at the other end, one of said first and second cross-beams being an upper crossbeam and the other being a lower one, the cross-beams being relatively movable to and away from each other, the breeze grab having a head adapted to be engaged by crane tongs and said head being connected to a grab column having a transverse element secured thereto near its lower end to liftingly engage said first cross-beam in one relative angular position and toliftirigly engage said second cross-beam in another relative angular position, the upper one of the cross-beams having a vertically extending guide member centrally fixed thereto and passing through a central aperture in the lower cross-beam, the grab column being vertically movable within said guide element in one angular position to liftingly engage the lower cross-beam in the said one angular position, furthermore, the grab column being rotatable about its vertical axis within said guide member in its lowermost position to liftingly engage the lower extremity of the upper cross-beam in an angular position dififerent from said one angular position.

4. A breeze grab, auxiliary tool to be operated by a pair of soaking pit charger crane tongs via a crane column, the breeze grab having shells each pivotally connected in different points to two traverses one above the other, one of the pivotal connections also allowing a horizontal displacement of its pivot point with respect to the traverse to which it is pivotally connected, so that by relative vertical movement of said traverses the shells are opened or closed, means forming a head having opposing surfaces spaced sufiiciently apart so that they may be grasped by said crane tongs, a rigid rod extending downwardly from said head means through an opening in the upper one of said traverses to cooperate with the lower one of said traverses for causing relative movement between the two traverses when the head means is lifted by the crane tongs.

5'. A breeze grab, auxiliary tool to be operated by a pair of soaking pit charger crane tongs adapted to open and close by a relative movement between the crane tongs and a crane column; the breeze gra having shells each pivotally connected in different points to two traverses one above the other, one of the pivotal connections also allowing a horizontal displacement of its pivotpoint with respect to the traverse to which it is pivotally connected,

so that by relative vertical movement of said traverses the shells are opened or closed, the grab having a head with means to allow crane tongs to engage and move said head, said head having a downwardly extending rod having at its lower end a protruding part, which in one angular position of head and rod about the vertical axis of the rod is engageable with one of the traverses from below to have it move vertically with the head and which protruding part in another angular position of the head and the rod is engageable with the other traverse from below to have it move vertically with the head, there being a non-circular opening in a part of one of the traverses to allow the protruding part to pass therethrough towards the other traverse in one angular position of the head and the rod and to prevent the protruding part from rnov ing through said opening in another angular position of the head and the rod, the grab and traverses being of such weights and dimensions that when the head engages one traverse the grab tends to be opened or remain open and that when the head engages the other traverse the grab tends to be or remain closed.

and a crane column; the breeze grab having shells each pivotally connected in different points to two traverses one above the other, one of the pivotal connections also allowing a horizontal displacement of its pivot point with respect to the traverse to which it is pivotally connected, so that by relative vertical movement of said traverses the shells are opened or closed, the grab having a head with means to allow crane tongs to engage and move said head, said head having a downwardly extending rod connected to one of the traverses, the other traverse being provided with means to liftingly connect the other traverse to the crane column.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS r 2,743,954 5/56 Ostlund 294-115 2,820,664 1/58 Mende 294-111 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,269 7/29 Germany.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiners. 

1. A BREEZE GRAB, AUXILIARY TOOL TO BE OPERATED BY A PAIR OF SOAKING PIT CHARGER CRANE TONGS, THE CRANE TONGS VIA A CRANE COLUMN BEING ADAPTED TO OPEN AND CLOSE BY RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CRANE TONGS AND THE CRANE COLUMN; THE BREEZE GRAB HAVING SHEELS, EACH DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO A FIRST CROSS-BEAM AT ONE END AND CONNECTED TO A SECOND CROSS-BEAM BY MEANS OF AT LEAST ONE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED CONNECTING ROD AT THE OTHER END, THE CROSSBEAMS BEING RELATIVELY MOVABLE TO AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, THE BREEZE GRAB HAVING A HEAD ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY CRANE TONGS AND SAID HEAD BEING CONNECTED TO A GRAB COLUM HAVING A TRANSVERSE ELEMENT SECURED THERETO NEAR ITS LOWER END, SAID GRAB COLUMN PASSING THROUGH AT LEAST SAID SECOND CROSS-BEAM AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID FIRST CROSS-BEAM, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE FIRST CROSS-BEAM FOR ENGAGING THE TRANSVERSE ELEMENT WHEN THE LATTER IS IN A FIRST ANGULAR POSITION, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SECOND CROSS-BEAM FOR ENGAGING THE TRANSVERSE ELEMENT WHEN THE LATTER IS IN AN ANGULAR POSITION DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST ANGULAR POSITION, SO THAT EITHER ONE OF THE CROSSBEAMS MAY BE LIFTED BY THE HEAD. 